Antoniolo Gattinara DOCG, Piedmont, Italy

Antoniolo Gattinara Riserva DOCG 2020 shows why Nebbiolo from Alto Piemonte deserves its own place at the table. Made from estate-grown Nebbiolo and drawn from Antoniolo’s Castelle, San Francesco, and Osso San Grato vineyards, it ferments spontaneously in concrete before extended aging in large oak casks and bottles. Antoniolo uses the Riserva designation selectively for its standard Gattinara, even though the estate gives its Gattinara wines Riserva-length aging.

Product Details:

• Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 13.5%
• Grape Varieties: 100% Nebbiolo
• Vineyard Sources: Castelle, San Francesco, and Osso San Grato estate vineyards
• Vine Age: 50–60 years
• Soils and Exposure: Volcanic soils; south- to southwest-facing sites
• Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation in concrete vats; 18-day maceration. The importer reports no temperature control.
• Aging: 36 months in 25–35 hL Slavonian and French oak casks, followed by approximately 12 months in bottle before release
• Owners: Alberto and Lorella Antoniolo
• Winemaker: Alberto Antoniolo

Sensory Description:

The aromatic profile moves between bright red fruit and savory, herbal complexity: cherry and raspberry meet sage, mint, tobacco, eucalyptus, and spice. On the palate, lively acidity and firm, fine-grained tannins give the wine shape without weighing it down. Iron and mineral notes carry into a persistent, savory finish, while the fresh fruit keeps the structure energetic. Wine Spectator recommends drinking this vintage through 2037.

Awards & Accolades:

• Vinous: 93 points, 2026; 93 points, 2024; 94 points, 2022
• Wine Spectator: 93 points, 2026
• Decanter: 96 points, 2022

Winemaker’s Background:

Mario Antoniolo founded the Gattinara estate in 1948. His daughter Rosanna later helped shape its identity, pioneering single-vineyard bottlings of Osso San Grato and San Francesco in 1974. Today, siblings Alberto and Lorella run the family winery. Antoniolo’s traditional approach includes slow fermentation in concrete and extended aging: the estate’s importer notes that its Gattinara wines receive Riserva-length élevage, while the Riserva designation on the standard Gattinara label began with the 2015 vintage. Under Gattinara DOCG rules, Riserva must age for at least 47 months, including 36 months in wood.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve slightly cool, around 60–64°F, in a large-bowled red wine glass. Give it time to open in the glass, or decant before serving if its tannins feel firm. Pair it with braised beef, roasted lamb, game birds, truffle risotto, or aged Parmigiano-Reggiano.